Kick It Out and FIFA link up for new partnership launch at Wembley

Tuesday 31 Jul 2012
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Joseph S. Blatter will join a gathering of the game’s leading administrators today (31 July) at Wembley Stadium to discuss how football can help beat the scourge of racism.

The FIFA President will be joined by Kick It Out Chair Lord Herman Ouseley, The Football Association Chairman David Bernstein, FIFA’s first female member of the Executive Committee Lydia Nsekera from the Burundi FA, and The FA’s first female board member, Heather Rabbatts, to pledge their collective support and commitment to tackling discrimination in football.

The event will be attended by campaigners from in and outside the game, as well as Kick It Out and senior FIFA representatives and people working in football at all levels in England. The two-hour event, from 5 to 7pm, will precede the Team GB v Brazil women’s Olympic Football Tournament match which kicks off at 7.45pm.

Paul Elliott, Kick It Out trustee and former Chelsea captain, said: “The purpose of this event is to provide a serious focus on how organisations like FIFA and Kick It Out can pool resource and expertise for a sustained programme of anti-discrimination and inclusion work in football, both here in England, and in other parts of the world.”

And the FIFA President said: “I am personally delighted to be supporting this joint project between FIFA and Kick It Out to highlight the problems of racism in the game and to take very positive steps forward to try to eradicate it once and for all.”

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"We have a responsibility as players to give something back and I’m really thankful to be part of this organisation because we can do a lot of good."
Jack Butland, 'Next 20' Ambassador
“A big part of my involvement with Kick It Out stems from my strong admiration for the organisation’s commitment to fairness and equality.”
Clive Tyldesley, football commentator
“It was Kick It Out that convinced the people in football that change was possible.”
Greg Dyke, former FA chairman
“I wanted to thank the campaigners at Kick It Out for their work. I know first-hand how Kick It Out can help.”
Yaya Toure, Manchester City midfielder
“It is important for me in my role as a Kick It Out ‘Next 20’ ambassador to teach young people how to handle discrimination and treat people with respect.”
Romelu Lukaku, 'Next 20' Ambassador
“It is a massive honour for me to be an ambassador for such a great organisation. I think they do great work on and off the field.”
Toni Duggan, 'Next 20' Ambassador
"It really helped me to see that other professional sports people were acknowledging their sexuality. I read about John Amaechi, Gareth Thomas and Tom Daley. They weren't footballers but the fact that they went public gave me the feeling that I was not alone."
Thomas Hitzlsperger, former Aston Villa midfielder
"There was no conflict between religion and the fact that I wanted to play football. I was brought up correctly and in the right way and my parents are very proud of the fact that I am a professional footballer."
Sadio Mané, Liverpool winger
“I think it’s important to share success stories and realise that there are women operating in the game. If it’s something you want to do, you can do it.”
Ffion Eade, Hampshire FA referee
"I've had loads of negative comments from men, especially growing up. It's just boring and old. Times have changed, and they continue to change. Women play football, and they're good at it, and have been for a number of years.”
Kelly Smith, England Women's record goalscorer
"Despite the progress, stereotypes still exist in football and until that is broken down it will be extremely difficult for a woman to manage a top level men's team."
Rachel Yankey, former Arsenal Ladies forward
"There’s no hiding that there is sexism in sport. We have a lack of women right across all levels of management, playing and coaching. It shows the closed nature of sport in general and this includes the media. It’s an indictment of sport as a whole."
Rimla Akhtar, Kick It Out trustee and Chair of the Muslim Women’s Sports Foundation
“I’m proud to be a supporter of Kick It Out and particularly the work they are doing to combat antisemitism within football.”
Joe Jacobson, Wycombe Wanderers midfielder
"With Kick It Out leading the way football is standing up and fighting against those who preach hatred and intolerance and we at Chelsea are proud to support their work."
Bruce Buck, Chelsea Football Club Chairman

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